How Green Becomes Wood

[pandakatiefominz]

Sloan shook her head but played along, getting in her side, "It's very chivalrous of you to open the door for me before I drive you home. It's a nice blending of norms.'

 

[BookKnight]

"I thought you might like that," Alec chuckled. He went around to his side and got in, buckling up. "Is here where I say, Home, stereotypical butler name!"

 

[pandakatiefominz]

"Hey, you watch yourself," Sloan teased and drove Alec home. "I had a lot of fun today. See you Monday?"

 

[BookKnight]

"See you Monday!" Alec said with a little wave. "Thanks for driving. And for talking." He headed inside, calling out that he was home.

 

[pandakatiefominz]

"Hi habibi," Daizi called back, holding Ivy on her hip, "How was it?"

 

[BookKnight]

"It was so much fun! Sloan is a great friend to hang out with," Alec said happily as he quickly touched the salt and kicked off his shoes. He went over and showed his nails to Ivy. "What do you think, Mini? Do I have pretty nails now?"

 

[pandakatiefominz]

Making a cooing sound, Ivy reached out and grabbed Alec's hand, turning his hand over in hers to look at his nails. Then, squeaking, she pointed at his painted fingers and squirmed to look up at her mother and brother.

 

[BookKnight]

"I think she likes them!" Alec grinned. "Someday, Mini, you'll get to paint your nails, too, but you have to be able to sit still for it. I'll paint them for you when you're ready for that."

 

[pandakatiefominz]

"She definitely can't sit still enough for it yet," Daizi agreed, "but maybe soon. How did you decide to have them painted?"

 

[BookKnight]

"Blue and gold. Very bright and sparkly, but no real texture," he told her. "They look incredible. Becky and Claire are going to be so jealous!"

 

[pandakatiefominz]

"It sounds nice," Daizi replied, "You should go show your father, he's in his shed right now. He'd probably appreciate them more than I can."

 

[BookKnight]

Alec reached out and hugged his mother and little sister. "Love you both!" Then he headed outside and walked down to the shed, where he tapped lightly on the door. "Anyone home?"

 

[pandakatiefominz]

"You can come in," Dark called back, not getting up to open the door for him.

 

[BookKnight]

Alec opened the door and walked in, shutting it behind him. "Hi, Ba! I just got back from getting my nails done. Want to see? What are you making?"

 

[pandakatiefominz]

"I would love to see them," Dark replied, setting down his knife so he could switch off the podcast he had been listening to, "Right now, I am making gears."

 

[BookKnight]

"What are the gears for?" Alec asked. He held out his hands and splayed his fingers to show his father. "Blue and gold! It felt right."

 

[pandakatiefominz]

"I would like to build a contraption of some sort." Dark answered, picking up one of the gears between his pointer finger and thumb and looking at it for a moment before turning and looking at Alec's fingers, "That is a very nice combination, it looks good. Why do you think it felt right to you?"

 

[BookKnight]

"It felt like a bright and happy, sparkly moment without being overbearing," Alec replied. "I felt in need of a bright, happy, sparkly moment. What contraption are you going to make?"

 

[pandakatiefominz]

"That shade of blue with gold always makes me think of Van Gogh," Dark mused, "and I have not decided yet. I saw this wonderful box which opens and shuts a letter placed inside when the crank is turned, and I thought it was fantastic. This will be something with a crank, surely."

 

[BookKnight]

"Ooo, Xander will like that," Alec said. He looked at his nails consideringly. Dark was right. It was Van Gogh, but he felt silver would make it more Van Gogh. He was glad he went gold, but maybe next time he'd try silver. "What letter are you going to put in there?"